Did you know?

B''H

Did you know that feeding one's minor children is considered charity?

It is writen "Jacob lived in the land of Egypt for 17 years. Jacob's days, the years of his life, were 147 ears" (47:28)

One might right away ask, isn't this extra? We know that Jacob was 130 when he came to Egypt, enough the Torah should write that Jacob lived 147 years, or that the Torah would write that he lived for 17 years in Egypt. Why the double phrasing?

The reason is because Josef was taken away from Jacob at the age of 17, hence Jacob supported and fed him for 17 years. Now after all this time, Josef supported Jacob in dignity for 17 years.

One could now ask, how would he know that it was in dignity?
This is because it says that Jacob lived for 17 years in Egypt. Right afterwards it says that Jacob's days, the years of his life were 147. Hence, he only really lived 17 good years, for all the other 130 years were years of pain, suffering and troubles. Jacob had never had one good year until he came to Egypt. He suffered very greatly that he lost Josef at the age of 17, for he remembered his mother Rachel. Jacob prematuraly lost Rachel, he would console over her by seeing his son Josef. When he lost Josef, he lost both his consolences. G-d paid Jacob back for this by giving him the 17 years at the end of his life to be the best ones. This connects to the 1st point that feeding one's minor children is considered charity. G-d gave him 17 years also for this 2nd reason that he gave charity to his son for the 17 years before Josef was taken away.

We can learn from this that no matter what we do to anyone, it will be done back to us in an even bigger way. Chassidut explains that G-d doesn't stay in debt to anyone, whether good or bad. We see it clearly from Jacob and Josef. A father has to, and will in any case, help and support his child. He would do this on his own flesh and blood in any way that he could, until his child can support himself. G-d pays him back in dignity. How much more so if a father decides to support and/or assist his child after he can support himself. (Or is at the age of doing so.) Even more so, how much reward will G-d give to someone who helps a complete stranger?

Just think about it! Remember this before you plan on "getting someone back" or doing anything "bad" to them. Better to Do Only Good, and G-d will pay you back in a good way!!

derived from Me'am Loez and Teachings of Various Chassidic Rabbi's, including Rebbe Menachem M. Schneersohn.

Derived from Me'am Loez
©Yermi Kurkus - Did you know